NBA MOCK DRAFT

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1. Cleveland: Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky

Woike: If next year's draft class wasn't so ridiculously stacked, I think Cleveland could've gone in a different direction. But with there being even more value to having the top pick next year to take Andrew Wiggins, it makes sense to take a player with an eye toward the future. Noel is an impact defender, but he needs to get healthy (recovering from ACL surgery) and stronger.

Woike: It's a rare when taking the “local” kid makes a ton of sense, but this is an exception. Porter, who at Georgetown starred in the same building the Wizards play in, has great all-around skills and can complement John Wall and Bradley Beal on the perimeter.

4. Charlotte: Anthony Bennett, F, UNLV

Ding: The Bobcats' young players have some clear strengths and tons of clear weaknesses. The clearest weaknesses are in the frontcourt, where no one can score. Bennett can do that and much more despite learning the game late in his youth.

5. Phoenix: Alex Len, C, Maryland

Woike: The Suns will be thrilled if Len is available here. He's a legitimate post scorer who has tremendous size and agility. Len is an above-average defender that would allow the Suns to shop center Marcin Gortat while the team attempts to rebuild.

6. New Orleans: Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas

Ding: An impressive shooter and better on defense than most young guards, McLemore can have an immediate impact.

No. 7 Sacramento: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

Woike: The Kings have a lot of needs, but point guard might be the biggest. Burke is a tremendous scorer who has big-time range. He's not a tremendous athlete, but he does possess real savvy.

No. 8 Detroit: C.J. McCollum, PG, Lehigh

Ding: Brandon Knight hasn't developed as a PG, but Detroit would be wise to try again with McCollum, a more polished offensive weapon whose shooting offers an outside to Greg Monroe's inside threat.

No. 9 Minnesota: Shabazz Muhammad, SF, UCLA

Woike: The Timberwolves have their point guard set with Ricky Rubio. They're set on the block with Kevin Love returning from injury. Now, they get a guy who has a lot of flaws, but one of those isn't putting the ball in the basket. Minnesota gets a scorer who will balance what the team does on offense.

10. Portland: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia

Ding: Caldwell-Pope has an NBA-ready game after creating — and making — so many pull-up shots in college. At 6-foot-6, he can remind scouts of Kobe Bryant with his penchant for making tough shots.

11. Philadelphia: Cody Zeller, C, Indiana

Woike: Remember Andrew Bynum? The 76ers won't either after Zeller gets going. He surprised everyone by testing through the roof at the NBA combine. While he didn't blow anyone away during his sophomore year, remember, he was projected as the top pick for most of the past 12 months.

12. Oklahoma City (from Toronto): Steven Adams, C, Pitt

Ding: It's rare a championship contender picks this high, so the Thunder won't want to waste the chance: Adams offers immense upside. He has all the physical tools as an NBA big man, hasn't been taught much yet and has still displayed surprising skill in pre-draft workouts.

13. Dallas: Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse

Woike: Carter-Williams has tremendous size for the position, and he's a very willing playmaker. MCW fills a big need for the Mavericks, especially since they won't be able to land Chris Paul in free agency.

14. Utah: Kelly Olynyk, C, Gonzaga

Ding: The former backup to Robert Sacre (last pick in the 2012 draft to the Lakers and an occasional contributor) isn't going to wow anyone, but he does make winning plays. He is mobile with a nice shooting touch.

15. Milwaukee: Sergey Karasev, SG/SF, Russia

Woike: Karasev is one of the best shooters in the draft, he's left-handed, which always seems to give NBA defenders a little bit of trouble, and at 6-foot-7 he's got plenty of height. However, he needs to get stronger, but at only 19, he has time.

16. Boston: Shane Larkin, PG, Miami

Ding: Son of baseball shortstop Barry Larkin, Shane is a perfectly fine fit for the hardwood — as seen by his 44-inch vertical at the combine. Aside from Boston's lack of a backup for Rajon Rondo, the Celtics need vibrant possibilities for the future such as Larkin.

No. 17 Atlanta: Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany

Woike: Schroeder hasn't exactly starred in his workouts, but the international point guard starred at the Nike Hoop Summit in front of scouts from every team. Schroeder has great speed off the dribble and can hit from the outside and from the line. He also has a giant, 6-foot-7 wingspan.

18. Atlanta (from Houston): Giannis Adetokunbo, SF, Greece

Ding: When you have back-to-back picks at this dicey part of the first round, it's wise to take a foreign player who isn't another raw body clogging your bench and salary cap immediately. Adetokunbo can stay overseas and grow his game closer to where he might someday be compared to Scottie Pippen or at least Nicolas Batum in ways other than build and look.

19. Cleveland (from Miami via Lakers): Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Michigan

Woike: If the Cavaliers keep this pick, they'll have some intriguing options. They could try and add depth up front with another big man by taking Mason Plumlee or Gorgui Dieng. But I think it makes more sense to add on the wing, and Hardaway is really solid.

20. Chicago: Jamaal Franklin, SG, San Diego State

Ding: High-motor player who can guard almost anyone on the floor? Methinks big-brained Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau will find a way to use that right away as Chicago heads back toward the top with Derrick Rose again. Franklin needs to work on his stroke, but he figures out ways to score and is the kind of true baller who'd fit great in Chicago.

21. Utah (from Golden State): Isaiah Canaan, PG, Murray State

Woike: Canaan's a big-time shooter with NBA 3-point range. He's been impressive in workouts, and with the success of Damian Lillard last season, there's less of a stigma in going with a player from a small school.

22. Brooklyn: Gorgui Dieng, C, Louisville

Ding: With an NBA-ready big body and a resume that includes anchoring Louisville's stellar defense last season, Dieng is more than insurance for Brook Lopez's fragile feet. Dieng already is 23 and won't ever be pretty on offense, but he could help immediately with that wingspan and shot-blocking timing.

No. 23 Indiana Pacers: Lucas Nogueira, PF/C, Brazil

Woike: Nogueira is an intriguing prospect because of his incredible size, length and athleticism. True, he's incredibly raw, but he is talented enough to end up in the lottery of this draft. The Pacers need to bolster their depth, and eventually, Nogueira could be the first big in, playing both the 4 and 5 spots.

24. New York: Rudy Gobert, C, France

Ding: He's a 7-2 project, but the Knicks need to develop some young talent in an aging frontcourt. If Gobert was more of an athlete, he'd be in the lottery. As is, he has a lot of possible defensive impact.

25. Clippers: Reggie Bullock, SF, North Carolina

Woike: The Clippers saw what Danny Green was able to accomplish over the past two seasons with the Spurs. Here's this year's version, a wing player with size and a sweet 3-point shot. Oh, and he just so happened to have attended the same school as Green.

26. Minnesota (from Memphis): Mason Plumlee, C, Duke

Ding: Certain clubs like Plumlee's senior experience and traditional post presence on both sides of the ball, but the question is how great can the guy ever become? He is a nice athlete and can play a little in the NBA right now.

No. 27 Denver: Tony Snell, SF, New Mexico

Woike: The Riverside native can really shoot the ball from long distance, which if Denver keeps running under Brian Shaw, he should get chances. Providence's Ricky Ledo also is an option.

Ding: He looked like a diamond in leading Rio Grande Valley to the D-League title after the rough experience of being kicked off Georgia Tech's team more than a year ago. The son of the former Lakers sharpshooter also has a deadly stroke from beyond NBA 3-point range.

29. Oklahoma City: Allen Crabbe, SG, Cal

Woike: Crabbe could go much, much higher in this draft. He's not a great athlete, but he's got deep 3-point range and a sweet stroke.

30. Phoenix (from Miami): Ricky Ledo, SG, Providence

Ding: A nice shooter like new coach Jeff Hornacek would be logical. Ledo has an all-around skill level to test Hornacek's ability to develop talent.

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